Course syllabus
SOCSCRES 100
Thinking Like a Researcher
Semester 2, 2018
Is there more to research than libraries and labcoats?
Research is the creative engine that drives our collective understanding of humankind’s place in the universe. From social science research we learn about behaviours of people and institutions past and present, and how this information can be leveraged to address current and future problems. Social science research is applied in a wide range of disciplines and industries, from management to marketing, from human heritage to national/international policy-making. The critical issues we face today are increasingly entangled in human relationships, making it more important than ever to improve our understanding of social structures and processes through sound research.
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the research process and teach you how to think like a researcher. Throughout this course students will develop practical skills for doing research and draw on expert knowledge from leading researchers in the social sciences. In addition to introducing methods used in social science research, this course aims to break down the research process into primary components, and question why research in the 21st century is done the way it is, guided by fundamental questions such as:
- What is the research process like?
- What makes a research question good or bad?
- What is data? How can patterns in data be used to better understand the world?
- What is theory? How is theory used in research (and vice versa)?
- What are some of the ethical issues facing researchers today?
- What motivates research? Does research benefit everyone equally?
- What makes doing research in Aotearoa New Zealand unique?
Social science research is a diverse area of study that spans the divide between natural sciences and humanities, employing a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate human societies. By the end of the course, students will learn how to design a successful research programme, develop skills in descriptive writing and observation, learn how to analyse and visualise different kinds of data, practice critical reviews of published research and learn how to use critique and self-reflection to improve your own research design.
This is an introductory course and the first of three in the Social and Cultural Research Module. If you want to go on and develop more advanced research skills you can also take SOCSCRES 200 and/or 300. The course aims to introduce you to thinking like a researcher, and help you develop a wide range of practical research skills that are highly valued by employers.
Resources
Full course outline
Weekly Readings and Assignments
Course summary:
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